Highlights of CNN’s Gun Control Town Hall (Video)
Sen. Marco Rubio, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch struggle to answer students and parents in the wake of last week's school shooting in Parkland, Fla.Many eyes turned to CNN Wednesday night for its “Stand Up” town hall event, which allowed survivors of the mass shooting at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to confront lawmakers and lobbyists. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Sheriff Scott Israel of Broward County and NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch received the most screen time, though Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Ted Deutch, both Democrats, were also present.
Stoneman Douglas students and victims’ family members took the stage to confront the lawmakers and leaders about gun control in the emotional event. Rubio and Loesch received the most intense criticism (Rubio was booed upon his introduction, and Loesch exited the town hall to chants of “Shame on you!”), with some Twitter commenters arguing that the teens were able to ask such sharp questions because, unlike journalists, “they don’t need to worry about losing access.”
Watch video clips from the town hall below.
Marco Rubio:
Sen. Marco Rubio: “I think all of us would like to see action, but I want to tell you what we’re going to struggle with. We are a nation of people that no longer speak to each other” #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/jlUQTDBRkw
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 22, 2018
Florida school shooting survivor Cameron Kasky challenges Sen. Marco Rubio: “Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?” https://t.co/NWJT6KBYLh #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/eXVIctIzEZ
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018
Father of Florida school shooting victim confronts Sen. Marco Rubio: “Your comments this week and those of our President have been pathetically weak” https://t.co/3F4NHQ8i8Z #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/jNbtOL6yma
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018
Dana Loesch:
Florida history teacher schools @NRA‘s @DLoesch on the 2nd amendment. It’s amazing. pic.twitter.com/9HhzTHVXmr
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) February 22, 2018
The mother of Scott Beigel, a teacher who was killed in the shooting, to NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch: “Why are my son’s unalienable rights not protected as fiercely as the right to bear arms?” https://t.co/JWbTTb8smi #StudentsStandUp pic.twitter.com/HoU9lh3rrA
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018
Oof. Loesch gets big boos after she tells high school students that they should be able to buy AR-15s because otherwise they might get raped. pic.twitter.com/NWSsOuzbwJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch: “This individual was nuts. … None of us support people who are crazy, who are dangerous to themselves, who are a danger to others, getting their hands on a firearm.” https://t.co/V50uSV8IiG #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/P5SiokWN3S
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018
Scott Israel:
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel to Florida students: “I’m an honest sheriff. … My generation — we did not get it done. You will get it done. America is watching you.” https://t.co/6aYY70w14B #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/1VfTFGaZGt
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel: “We do need to have some gun control and reform. … Anybody who says different, I don’t know about other people, but Emma (Gonzalez) and I — we’re calling BS on that” https://t.co/P3WjqhBFsb #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/0WgZFR3kgQ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 22, 2018
Bill Nelson:
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to Samantha Grady, whose best friend died in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida: “When you get right down to it, the gun is what is going to do the killing” https://t.co/89FaII5jZE #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/xUo4HVohHV
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 22, 2018
I grew up on a ranch. I’ve always had guns and I’ve hunted all my life. An AR-15 is not for hunting; it’s for killing. pic.twitter.com/acbhJp4t5S
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) February 22, 2018
Ted Deutch:
Rep. Ted Deutch: A lot of people have told this community that it’s too soon to talk about getting weapons of war out of our communities. “It is not too soon, it is too late for the 17 lives that were lost.” https://t.co/TUCoxT1Vij #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/5D8ew8cUy5
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 22, 2018
Congressman Ted Deutch Asks “Is Our Democracy Broken? A Little Bit” #StudentsStandUp pic.twitter.com/SCUNakiod3
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 22, 2018
–Posted by Emma Niles
Your support matters…Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.